Free Slave to the Sheikh: by Nadia Aidan Page A

don’t you?” I faced him then, letting my gaze rake him with cool indifference.  My heart was breaking as I stared blankly at the man I’d believed myself to be in love with.  The things I’d done with him, I’d never done with any other man.  I wanted to feel shame for the liberties I’d allowed him, but I couldn’t conjure one ounce of humiliation.  I’d surrendered everything to Amir, because I’d loved him, still loved him, there was no shame in that.  At least I’d had the good sense to not completely lose my head by telling him how deeply I loved him, because I don’t think I could have faced him if I’d been so foolish in revealing that secret.
    “I’m sorry—”
    “For what exactly?” I frowned. “For hurling angry insults at me because despite being completely humiliated by you, I still maintained my dignity by remaining cordial to your mother and fiancé? What did you expect me to do? To collapse in a heap, make a fool of myself, and curse your name?  You seemed to be doing quite a fine job of cursing people’s names, that I just didn’t see the point—”
    “Daniella—”
    “Don’t.”  He stood there, his eyes full of remorse and pain.  He had no right to say my name so emphatically that it reverberated to the depths of my soul.  Even now, as wounded as I felt, I wanted him.  With his hair disheveled, his collar unbuttoned, and the hint of stubble along his jaw, he was every bit the wild, desert prince who had claimed my body and then stolen my heart.  I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t and that made me sadder than discovering he was set to marry another woman.
    “I have a job to do,” I continued, “And I intended to finish the excavation as planned.  However, in light of what I’ve discovered today, our weekly meetings will be conducted via email only and I will be moving into a hotel until the project has been completed.”
    “No.”
    Though not entirely surprised, I still stared at him because I was stunned by his arrogance.  I hadn’t expected him to just roll over and accept my demands, but out of compassion alone he should have.
    “This is not a negotiation.  It’s over between us, and I have no desire to see your lying, cheating face ever again.”  Just saying the words enraged me.  I couldn’t stand there any longer or else I would break down.  I spun away from him, intending to disappear deeper into the foliage of the garden oasis.  I didn’t get far.  I should have known he wouldn’t let me dismiss him so easily, but the combination of my anger and anguish clouded my reason.
    When his hand clamped around my arm, I snapped.
    I lashed out at him wildly, my fists striking whatever body part it could find.  I couldn’t see him because my tears blinded me.  I could still hear him though, calling my name and pleading with me to listen, but I refused.  The desperation in his voice made me that much angrier.  He should have been desperate to tell me the truth, where had his desperation been then?
    I fought harder against him, but he only held me tighter.  The more I resisted him, the more he restrained me, until he’d trapped me against one of the native palm trees that flourished in the desert nation.
    The rough bark dug into my back, as Amir pressed deeper into me.  A second, maybe two ticked by before I realized in my struggles my dress had worked its way up my legs as he’d fought to pin me against the tree.  My bare thighs now encircled his hips, and as if we were of one mind, it dawned on us at the exact moment the position we were now in.
    His nostrils flared at the same time I felt his cock harden against my mound.  My thong and his trousers, nothing but a few inches of fabric separated our most intimate parts.  In the next instant, my panties were ripped from me and he’d pulled down his zipper.  Without even looking, I knew he now held the swollen length of his dick within the palm of his hand.
    I was aroused, yes, but as large